US warns Russia not to veto Syria border access

 ROME, June 29 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The United States warned that Russia would put at risk hopes for more constructive relations if it uses its UN veto to shut the sole border crossing for aid into Syria.    Secretary of State Antony Blinken joined Italy in leading talks in Rome of…

More record-smashing heat forecast as Canada, US northwest bake

OTTAWA, June 29 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Canada braced for its highest ever temperature as the country’s west and swathes of the United States baked in an unprecedented heat wave, forcing schools and Covid-19 vaccination clinics to close and the postponement of an Olympic athletics qualifying event.    The village of Lytton…

Covid-19: UK govt says July 19 ‘end of the line’ for virus curbs

LONDON, June 29 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The British government is intent on lifting all of England’s coronavirus restrictions on July 19, Sajid Javid said in his maiden speech to parliament as health secretary.    “We see no reason to go beyond 19th July,” Javid told MPs on Monday as he sought…

Covid-19: US cases hit new plateau as Delta variant rises

 WASHINGTON, June 29 (NNN-AGENCIES) — After declining fast for two months, the rate of Covid infections in the United States has leveled off since mid-June thanks to localized spikes in under-vaccinated regions of the country, data showed Monday.   It comes as the highly contagious Delta variant continues to gain…

Ethiopia declares unilateral Tigray ceasefire as rebels enter regional capital; government forces flee

  MEKELE (Tigray, Ethiopia), June 29 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Ethiopia’s federal government on Monday declared a “unilateral ceasefire” in its war-torn Tigray region, state media reported, as rebel fighters entered the regional capital Mekele, sparking celebrations in the streets.    The dramatic reversal for Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s forces signalled a…

Covid-19: Fourth major Australian city ordered into lockdown

  BRISBANE (Australia), June 29 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Brisbane on Tuesday became the fourth major Australian city ordered into lockdown, as officials told residents to stay at home for three days over concerns about the rapid spread of Covid-19.    About 10 million Australians will be in lockdown once the latest…

Covid-19: South Africa tops 60,000 deaths

 PRETORIA, June 29 (NNN-AGENCIES) — South Africa, the worst virus-hit country in the continent, crossed the threshold of 60,000 coronavirus deaths, health officials announced, a day after a stricter lockdown was enforced.   “A further 138 covid-19 related deaths have been reported, bringing total fatalities to 60,038 to date,” the…

Pro-Iran militias fire shells at US base in east Syria: monitor

DAMASCUS, June 29 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Pro-Iranian militias fired several shells at a US base in eastern Syria’s Al-Omar oil field on Monday night, causing damage but no casualties, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said.    The development came after the US launched air strikes the previous night against three…

Update: Eleven dead in Florida building collapse, 151 unaccounted for

SURFSIDE (Florida, US), June 29 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Two bodies have been recovered from the debris of a Florida apartment building that collapsed last week, bringing the confirmed death toll to 11, with another 151 people still unaccounted for, Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava said.    “This morning (Monday) we…

Pres Biden assures Israeli president the United States will not permit Iran to develop nuclear weapons

 WASHINGTON, June 29 (NNN-AGENCIES) — President Joe Biden reassured Israel’s president, ahead of a visit by new Prime Minister Naftali Bennett, that the United States will not permit Iran to develop nuclear weapons.    “Iran will never get a nuclear weapon on my watch,” Biden told President Reuven Rivlin in…